Then came the realization that the team's uniform shirt included a logo for a beer brand.

Seehorn didn't want to make a big deal of it. Still — a minister of an evangelical Christian church sporting a shirt with a beer logo made about as much sense as a Republican sporting a Vote for Obama T-shirt.

In other words, it wasn't going to happen.

Seehorn told the team's manager, Dennis Phillips, of his concern. Phillips came up with an alternative. A shirt was given to Seehorn with his own special design.

Instead of a shirt featuring a beer logo, as other players on the team wore, Seehorn's new shirt was emblazoned with a cross, perhaps the most well-known symbol of Christianity.

"The guys joke with me," Seehorn said. "They call me the team chaplain. But it's fun."

Seehorn has been playing city league softball for years. Until recently, he also was a fixture on the city league volleyball court.

Playing sports puts him shoulder to shoulder with folks who may not be Christians and who may not share some of his values. And, for Seehorn, that's the beauty of staying involved on teams well into his 50s.

"They all know that I'm a minister," he said. "At first, I'm not sure they all knew what to think about that. But most of them accept me a softball player who preaches, rather than as a preacher who plays softball."

Seehorn, who tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his knee two years ago and has since recovered, said an advantage for him is getting to know people in a non-church setting where he can get a better handle on their problems and struggles. Some of his softball teammates, he said, will confide in him after games, knowing he will listen to them without being judgmental.

Still, he said he doesn't hesitate to speak a word from his Christian perspective, particularly if he believes it will help a person think a bit more deeply about spiritual things.

No preaching or confrontation, but a word well spoken — that's Seehorn's goal. As a result, many of the players, including those who don't go to church, see Seehorn as a friend.

"They're aware of who I am and what I represent," he said. "It's good for me to be in an atmosphere that normally I don't have an opportunity to be in. Typically, I'm around Christian people in a church setting or at Christian events.

"I enjoy that, of course, but this gives me an opportunity to be around people who aren't Christians or who don't go to church — people who use a different vocabulary than I do."

In visiting with his teammates, he said, he finds that many have faith backgrounds that have fallen into the inactive status regarding their church attendance.

"Most people have faith histories of some sort," he said. "But they just don't give it a thought. They're ignoring their faith — believing in God but ignoring the implication of what that means."

If anything, Seehorn said, his ball playing can shed some new light on what it means to be a Christian: "We don't have to be dull or bland."

Dennis Phillips, manager of the Dugout Bar and Grill's Monday night softball team, said he enjoys having Seehorn on the team.

"He gets along with everyone really well," Phillips said. "On our team, we have people from all different walks of life. I know the guys on the team enjoy having Steve around."

Phillips said being on the Dugout's softball team is "probably a good stress-reliever" for Seehorn.

He added that Seehorn fits in with other players on the team.

"We all get along with each other," Phillips said. "We're guys who like to play softball."

Phil Anderson can be reached at (785) 295-1195 or phil.anderson@cjonline.com.

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